iz8 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



tate a moment, and sent orders that the vessel should 

 be allowed to leave with them for Bordeaux. 



My personal position thus enabled me to render 

 some service to my country during my mission at 

 Madrid, and among other things I was able to con- 

 clude a postal convention, which had been under dis- 

 cussion for seventy years, and, while granting certain 

 privileges to Spaniards, obtain the retrocession of the 

 buildings of the church of St. Louis-des-Franc,ais, 

 which had been under sequestration since the war of 

 1808. 



Moreover, I had the satisfaction, when my mission 

 was terminated by a change of residence which I had 

 not solicited, of having the following words addressed 

 to me by the Queen of Spain in public audience : 

 " You carry away with you my esteem and that of all 

 my subjects." If I repeat these words it is not out 

 of personal vanity, but because they may be of some 

 service to my country and to my children. 



